The Role of Maternal Attachment Security and Internal Locus of Control in Predicting the Development of Dispositional Optimism

A path analysis testing developmental origins of dispositional optimism demonstrated that age 10 secure attachment predicted greater optimism at age 18. Internal control at age 14 mediated this association. Moreover, age 18 levels of optimism mediated the association between age 14 internal control and psychological well-being at age 23.